PETALING JAYA: Umno leaders are meeting here tonight with discussions expected to focus on a disputed order for its former president and prime minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.
Another item on the agenda is believed to be the forthcoming elections to the Sabah state assembly, which must be held by Dec 6. The elections are viewed as being a test of the relationship between parties in the unity government.
An Umno source, who did not wish to be named, said, however, it was unsure what aspects of the addendum would be discussed.
The Umno meeting comes days after Najib obtained leave to begin judicial review proceedings to compel the government to place him under house arrest in accordance with a royal order said to have been issued as an addendum to a pardons board decision in February.
Najib’s lawyer submitted to the High Court a letter from the Pahang palace confirming the existence of the addendum.
However, government officials have stated that the pardons board had not received an order for house arrest from Istana Negara.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has since asked the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant Najib a full pardon over his conviction and prison sentence in the SRC International case.
In February the pardons board commuted Najib’s sentence, reducing his 12-year jail term to six years and a RM250 million fine to RM50 million.
